NZ v Poms in US

[Burns]

Just had a message off MSI and they are working on it being a double header

Any idea who with?

 

[roughyedspud]

He didn't say but I'd guess USA v Canada...it's the logical option

 

[Robert B]

I'd say USA v Fiji. Jarryd Hayne v Silas Redd Jnr would be good for marketing.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Hopefully now that Denver has been picked, they get annual matches (club or international fixtures) up until the World Cup, if we also have say Hamilton, New York and Boston join the RFL system you will have a few cities that have hopefully built a bit of a following by the time the cup arrives:

Toronto
New York
Boston
Hamilton
Denver

Then schedule Tonga and Samoa's pool games in Hawaii and we might have some decent crowds.

 

[jim_57]

Hopefully now that Denver has been picked, they get annual matches (club or international fixtures) up until the World Cup, if we also have say Hamilton, New York and Boston join the RFL system you will have a few cities that have hopefully built a bit of a following by the time the cup arrives:

Toronto
New York
Boston
Hamilton
Denver

Then schedule Tonga and Samoa's pool games in Hawaii and we might have some decent crowds.

Best case scenario IMO would be 4 East Coast teams in the RFL system, with Moore getting his pro comp up and running and focusing mainly on the West Coast and Central states. Pretty pie in the sky stuff really, but the talk is being talked by Moore, Perez etc. To get even more fanciful a Hawaiian team playing in an Australian comp would complete the triangle and give a good handful of cities to base the 2025 World Cup around.

It is still kind of hard to believe the 2025 WC will be in North America, Moore will have to start making it believable soon, hopefully his efforts aren't undermined every step of the way by existing self interested clubs and organizations.

 

[roughyedspud]

I'd say USA v Fiji. Jarryd Hayne v Silas Redd Jnr would be good for marketing.

Hayne might be playing for nsw

 

[PARRA_FAN]

I'm shocked this has been confirmed and well done too. We're 7 years away from the WC there, lets keep taking the big games to USA and Canada.

 

[yakstorm]

Tickets go on sale on March 5. Double Header confirmed with the curtain raiser at 12pm local and the main game at 2pm.

2pm Denver equates to 8am Auckland, 6am Sydney and 9pm London at that time of the year, so you can't say they have picked that kick off time for TV outside of the US.

http://www.rugbyleaguechallenge.com

 

[adamkungl]

Tickets go on sale on March 5. Double Header confirmed with the curtain raiser at 12pm local and the main game at 2pm.

2pm Denver equates to 8am Auckland, 6am Sydney and 9pm London at that time of the year, so you can't say they have picked that kick off time for TV outside of the US.

http://www.rugbyleaguechallenge.com

I'd say the time is as good as it can be. Any later and it's too late for England, any earlier and it's too early in NZ

 

[Burns]

Feels so good that this has been announced and confirmed. NZ playing France too!

If Fiji can get themselves in order and play someone this year that would be great.

 

[Evil Homer]

Double header is a mistake IMO, expecting first time viewers to sit through two full matches is unrealistic, and it also relegates the USA team to curtain-jerkers. We should be a lot more savvy in protecting our national teams and their brands.

As for the crowd, 63k would be a success IMO.

 

[Evil Homer]

Telegraph reporting that the NRL will fine clubs if they don't release players. Hope this is true.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...h/news-story/8c211fdb3f114d2b2afef0299921b80a

 

[adamkungl]

I'm predicting some cringe in the comments for this.

Won't be long before some goose comments ITS RUGBY LEEEEG
Followed by some bitching about 'seppos'
Followed by Union fans "Thats not real Rugby"

 

[flamin]

Promo from MSI:

 

[adamkungl]

Didnt take long

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Best case scenario IMO would be 4 East Coast teams in the RFL system, with Moore getting his pro comp up and running and focusing mainly on the West Coast and Central states. Pretty pie in the sky stuff really, but the talk is being talked by Moore, Perez etc. To get even more fanciful a Hawaiian team playing in an Australian comp would complete the triangle and give a good handful of cities to base the 2025 World Cup around.

It is still kind of hard to believe the 2025 WC will be in North America, Moore will have to start making it believable soon, hopefully his efforts aren't undermined every step of the way by existing self interested clubs and organizations.

I share your concern mate. It's hard to believe we are going to go from Toronto averaging 8k to decent (average 12 - 15k) crowds for matches throughout the world cup and getting a min 35 - 40k crowd for a final in North America in just 7 years - yikes!

 

[Evil Homer]

Didnt take long

View attachment 17879

So dumb, why do they think anyone in America gives a f**k about our 'distinctive heritage'? If Americans think RL is what rugby is then we win.

 

[roughyedspud]

 

[Springs09]

Is this official confirmation??

https://www.nospam18.com/new-zealand/3336-kiwis-to-play-test-in-united-states

(sorry about the link, LU is doing something stupid with it for reasons. Check out Rugby League Planet.)

If so good stuff from the Kiwis.

Kiwis’ 2018 Test Programme

Saturday 23 June 2018; Kiwis v England; Denver, Colorado, USA
Saturday 13 October 2018; Kiwis v Australia; Auckland, NZ
Saturday 27 October 2018; England v Kiwis; Hull, England
Saturday 3 November 2018; England v Kiwis; Liverpool, England
Sunday 11 November 2018; England v Kiwis; Leeds, England
Saturday 17 November 2018; France v Kiwis; venue TBC


^ Could be better but a good start.
4 tests in 1 year v England is a bit overkill. Would have liked to see the Denver test double as the first game in the 3 match series, and play Wales or Ireland in October instead.
Would also love to see them round off the above with a December 1 game vs Tonga. Lost opportunity if that doesn't happen this year

More more more!

I disagree that it's good stuff. Agree that it could be better.

The tour has no more games than the 2015 version, but at least they aren't playing Leeds. Should at least be playing Tonga and 1 more Euro nation.

 

[Pommy]

I noticed before the World Cup the England based players not involved in the finals were doing some training together at Man City’s training complex.
It will be interesting to see if the England based players get any time there again as they have entire gyms capable of simulating altitude.